May 19, 2023 By Will Speros Hospitality Design
The Four Seasons Hotel Boston officially reopened last week following a transformation led by designer Ken Fulk. The update of the urban retreat draws upon the vernacular of the stately homes found in Boston’s Beacon Hill and Back Bay neighborhoods.
“I have been visiting this Four Seasons since I was in my 20s and lived just down the street. I was thrilled to be asked to help reimagine the public spaces, which, in my mind, could easily feel more like a grand residence with the sprawling ‘grounds’ of the Public Garden,” Fulk says. “We delved deep into Boston’s rich history and literary traditions to find our inspiration. We wanted guests to feel at home the minute they arrived so the lobby needed to be so much more than a transitional space. We created rooms within the existing lobby where folks could enjoy a coffee or a cocktail or simply sit and relax with a good book.”
A residential ethos steers the design narrative, rendering the interiors akin to private sanctuaries ensconced in a palette of verdant tones and botanical patterns. At reception, a large mural enlivens the arrival experience with a placid, Impressionist-style landscape influenced by the nearby Boston Commons.
Velvet, silk, and leather upholstery also animate the hotel’s common areas with vibrant notes of green, blue, and gold. Artwork and antiques are also layered throughout the property, alongside surfaces of cerused wood, pewter, bronze, and black and white marble.
Other new additions to the Four Season Hotel Boston include lounge and restaurant Coterie, which evokes an Old World character via garden floral prints, hand-drawn botanical illustrations, and portraits of writers and artists illuminated by vintage lighting. Leather and brass detail a bar topped with zinc as well.
The adjacent library serves as a cocktail destination populated with velvet seating and silk fringe, while Sottovento hosts a glamorous café. The sixth-floor garden terrace, Sanctuary, rounds out the new entries into the hotel’s dining lineup. Aujourd’hui, a breakfast and lunch concept, has also reopened onsite overlooking garden views via floor-to-ceiling windows.